This fact sheet is about imagining alternatives for sustainable resource development. It looks at approaches to resource development that exist in other parts of the world. Why not here? These approaches include: 1) recognition of Indigenous rights and control over traditional territory, 2) redistribution of wealth gained from resource extraction, and 3) adoption of slow and sustainable ways to use natural resources and 4) community engagement in decision-making that values diverse and marginalized women.

This fact sheet provides an introduction to the "Resource Development in Northern Communities; Local Women Matter" series and an overview of the fact sheets contained within it. The series aims to foster understanding about, and provide ideas
for, how to develop resources in northern Canadian communities in ways that ensure women, children and their communities benefit.

This fact sheet discusses how Colonialism has disrupted people’s relationship with water and land. It describes how Canadian colonization aimed to destroy Indigenous cultures, values, and women’s respected roles.

This fact sheet considers what modern resource extraction means for women, their families and communities. It also explores the political and global economic forces driving resource extraction in northern Manitoba and Labrador.

This fact sheet outlines four northern community models that value local women. The models show a range of ways to engage local women in communities to influence and deal with issues that arise with local resource extraction.

This fact sheet looks at how local women and northern communities can benefit from resource extraction. It focuses on two ways to do this: 1) Impact Benefit Agreements and, 2) the Environmental Impacts Assessment process that happens before a major resource development project begins.

This fact sheet focuses on how local women are improving community well-being. Two examples are featured: 1) development of a Community Vitality Index in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador and 2) activism by women from Pictou Landing First Nation in Nova Scotia to stop pollution of their local water by a pulp and paper mill.

The fact sheet explores the experiences of women with disabilities in Canada’s North. Based on research with women in FemNorthNet’s partner communities, it illustrates some of the positive aspects of living with disabilities in the North, some barriers to inclusion and access, as well as how resource extraction projects create changes and additional challenges for women with disabilities. The fact sheet identifies some key issues that need to be addressed to increase access and inclusion in the North and provides recommendations and resources relating to those issues.

To make northern communities sustainable they must be able to attract and retain a diverse population, from young working families to retired senior residents. This diversity brings with it the jobs, services, and local knowledge communities require to function well. However, there many challenges to supporting senior residents in the North, which leads to many out-migrating to the South to access needed supports and services. This fact sheet takes a closer look at this issue and suggests approaches to overcoming some of these challenges through thoughtful investment, design, and community collaboration.

Northern towns that rely on resource extraction to sustain their economies face a number of challenges. However, through reinvestment in local infrastructure during boom periods these towns can build the resilience needed to continue thriving even after the “boom” periods have passed. Studies have shown this investment should focus on creating an environment that is supportive of diverse women who want to live, work, and age in their community. This fact sheet explains why and draws upon real-world examples of investment strategies.

During “boom” periods in northern, resource-based towns the incomes are good, new workers are drawn in, and the demand for local housing goes way up. This can make it difficult for many women to keep a roof over their heads, as women are not often able to access higher-paying resource jobs, local rent prices skyrocket, and subsidized housing is rarely available. Meanwhile, women who are able to afford to purchase homes during the “boom” are often left with unmanageable amounts of mortgage debt when the resource economy inevitably “busts” and high-paying jobs are lost. This fact sheet explores the impacts of resource-based economies on housing prices and diverse women's experiences of living through these "boom" and "bust" markets.

Northern development introduces new stresses on northern populations including demanding work schedules, exposure to transient workers, inflated local economies, and greater access to illicit substances. This combination, paired with the legacy of colonization, has contributed to high incidence of violence against women in the North including domestic violence, assault, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Some women are at higher risk due to their personal mobility and migration patterns and the occurrence of these crimes conjointly affects the way diverse women can move through northern spaces and places.

In the North, going to work often means getting on a plane and flying to a remote work camp for days or weeks at a time. Known as “fly-in/fly-out” work, the salaries tend to be very good but the nature of the work places immense stress on workers' families, personal health, and ability to establish a routine and connections within their home community. Whether supporting a partner in the industry, attempting to work in it themselves, or simply living in a community full of fly-in/fly-out workers, women face unique challenges in this environment. This fact sheet provides an introduction to these issues and suggestions for further research to begin addressing them.

An overview of the Claiming Our Place project, which gathered local women in Happy Valley – Goose Bay, Labrador (NL) to build relationships across cultural lines and around the shared impacts introduced by the Lower Churchill River hydroelectric development project. The project used a participatory action framework alongside the Creative Action Circles process (developed from indigenous knowledge and practices) to uncover women's concerns and then express these concerns using artistic means.

"Sexual and Reproductive Justice in the North" features information on some of the barriers to diverse women exercising their rights to sexual and reproductive health and choice in northern Canada. It also highlights the creative ways in which women and northern organizations have been addressing these issues with a combination of traditional and western knowledge.

About CRIAW

CRIAW is a research institute that provides tools to facilitate organizations taking action to advance social justice and equality for all women. CRIAW recognizes women’s diverse experiences and perspectives; creates spaces for developing women’s knowledge; bridges regional isolation; and provides communication links between/among researchers and organizations actively working to promote social justice and equality for all women.